mysql, intexes, text

[twinzen]

hi,

i want to search a table with a couple of varchar and two text fields. some 2500 rows. what is the best way for this? i though of using matching but for that i need to create an index.

but i got confused when reading the manual. indexes for text fields must always have length defined. but if i have a text field of many character and index length for that coloumn is, say, 100 then what about the rest of the field if i search with match against - are only 100 first characters searched or if the field is longer then just index is not used or have i completely misunderstood this stuff?

a total newbie question you see but a cuople of quick tips will get me back on the track...

thanks in advance

[Kerry_Kobashi]

Probably be best to post your database schema and explain what you are trying to do. Will make things a little more clearer and help the discussion.

[twinzen]

database is something like:

ID | VARCHAR_1 | VARCHAR_2 | TEXT_1 | TEXT_2
1...length 255....length 255....lots of text..lots of text

i was wondering that if i have 500 cahracters in a text field and the index length for that field is 100 then what happens to the rest 400 characters (words) when i run a fulltext search using MATCH.